TW201338585A - Multimedia data distribution system and operating method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A multimedia data distribution system is provided. The multimedia data distribution system comprises a multimedia controller and at least a distribution zone. A distribution zone has a zone hub and zero to finite number of zone media player. The zone hub receives multimedia data from a multimedia content source through an out-of-zone data path and then synchronously redistributes multimedia contents to rest of zone media players via in-zone data paths. A multimedia controller utilizes out-of-zone control path to transmit control message to a zone hub, which in turn relays the control messages to addressed zone media player(s) via in-zone control paths. The zone hub of a distribution zone receives status updates from individual zone media players via in-zone status update paths, aggregates them, and then relays to the multimedia controller via the out-of-zone status update path. While out-of-zone data, control, and status update paths are setting up based on WiFi connections to an infrastructure AP or a Hotspot, all of the in-zone paths are established on WiFi Direct peer-to-peer connections.

Description

Multimedia data distribution system and its operation method

The present invention relates to a wireless multimedia material distribution system and method of operation of the distribution system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a multimedia material distribution system and a method of operating the multimedia material distribution system.

Wireless fidelity (WiFi) is a popular wireless network technology that allows electronic devices to wirelessly exchange data over a local area network through an infrastructure access point (AP) or point-to-point connection (using radio waves). At the same time, high-speed Internet connection is realized. In an infrastructure AP based WiFi multimedia distribution system, all multimedia devices must be connected to the infrastructure AP. The source device first transmits the multimedia content to an infrastructure AP associated therewith, which in turn redirects the multimedia content to the intended target device (group).

Therefore, in order for a conventional WiFi data distribution system to operate, each device needs to have a public IP address and the WiFi infrastructure AP must be present in the system. In other words, when the WiFi infrastructure AP does not exist, based on the WiFi infrastructure The AP's multimedia data distribution system does not work.

The present invention describes a method for operating a general multimedia material distribution system and a multimedia material distribution system for implementing multimedia material transmission, and a status update message (message) independent of the presence of the WiFi infrastructure AP. The architecture, configuration, and method of operation of the universal multimedia distribution system can be used to specifically enable the Wireless Composite Space Audio (WMRA) distribution system.

The invention provides a multimedia data distribution system. The multimedia material distribution system includes a content source, a multimedia controller, and at least one distribution area. The allocation area is a logical cluster of WiFi devices with a device called a zone hub and zero to a limited number of non-regional hub devices called zone media players. The zone hub receives multimedia material from the multimedia content source through an out-of-area data path, which may be the multimedia controller itself or an internet media source. The zone hub then re-allocates the multimedia material to all zone media players in its distribution zone via the zone data path, either synchronously or asynchronously. The out-of-zone data path can be a WiFi connection to an infrastructure AP or hotspot or peer-to-peer device, and each zone data path is a Wi-Fi Direct peer-to-peer connection. The multimedia controller can control the allocation area operation and receive the allocation area status update via the control path and the status update path, respectively. Both the control path and the status update path are established based on a certain type of WiFi connection.

The invention further provides a method for realizing based on Bluetooth low energy (BLE) A method of controlling the path and status update path. In one embodiment, the multimedia controller establishes a BLE data channel connection with the zone hub and each zone media player. Control messages and status update messages are sent directly between the multimedia controller and the zone hub/zone media player. In another embodiment, the control path and status update path are established using a directed or undirected BLE advertisement broadcast.

The present invention also provides a configuration of a multimedia material distribution system including a multi-function center device (MCD) and at least one zone media player. The multimedia distribution system focuses on an MCD device with combined functionality of a multimedia controller, a multimedia content source, and a zone hub. The data path in the area is a WiFi direct connection point-to-point connection, which is established between the zone hub and each zone media player. The zone control path and status update path are also based on a point-to-point connection between the zone hub and each zone media player (group). The zone hub relays control messages to each zone media player and relays status update messages back to the multimedia controller. The out-of-zone data path, control path, and status update path are internal to the MCD. The MCD has Internet connectivity to the distribution area via an infrastructure AP or WAN connection.

In the present invention, the multimedia material transmission, control message transmission, status update operation, and discovery operation in the multimedia material distribution system operate in the absence of an infrastructure access point. In addition, the wiring used to transfer signals between the controller, the zone hub, and the zone media player can be established in different ways based on the network topology and device performance.

The above described features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

100, 1200, 1300 ‧ ‧ multimedia data distribution system

102, 302, 1202, 1302a‧‧‧ multimedia controller

104, 304, 604, 1104a, 1104b‧‧‧ allocated area

106, 306, 606, 1206a, 1206b, 1302b‧‧‧ area hub

108, 108a, 108b, 308a, 308b, 608a, 608b, 1308a, 1308b‧‧‧ zone media player

110‧‧‧Outside data path

112a, 112b, 334a, 334b, 1312a, 1312b‧‧‧ data path in the area

120, 330‧‧‧ content source

S201~S205, S401~S405, S501~S505, S701, S801, S901~S905, S1001~S1005‧‧‧ Method flow steps

322‧‧‧Out-of-area control path

324a, 324b‧‧‧ regional control path

326‧‧‧Out-of-area status update path

Status update path in 328a, 328b‧‧

602, 1102‧‧‧ multimedia controller

622, 626a, 626b‧‧‧ control and status update paths

1204a‧‧‧First Distribution Area

1204b‧‧‧Second distribution area

1302‧‧‧Multifunctional center unit

1324a, 1324b‧‧‧ regional control path and status update path

1 is a schematic diagram of a multimedia material distribution system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flow diagram of a multimedia material transmission operation for a distribution area, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a schematic diagram of a data path, a control path, and a status update path in a multimedia material distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flow chart showing a control message transmission operation of a multimedia material distribution system having the control path shown in FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flow chart of a status update operation of a multimedia material distribution system having the status update path shown in FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a schematic diagram of a control path and a data path of a multimedia material distribution system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flow chart showing a control message transmission operation of a multimedia material distribution system having the control path and the status update path shown in FIG. 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flow chart of a status update operation of a multimedia material distribution system having the control path and status update path shown in FIG. 6, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a flow diagram of a discovery operation for a multimedia material distribution system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a flow diagram of a discovery operation for a multimedia material distribution system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a schematic diagram of a multimedia material distribution system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 12 is a diagram showing changes in the topology of the multimedia material area system of Figure 11 in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a multimedia material distribution system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

A multimedia material distribution system, such as a wireless multi-room audio (WMRA) system, includes a content source, a multimedia controller, and at least one distribution area (also referred to as a speaker area or a music area in a WMRA system). The allocation area is typically created by the user using a multimedia controller and contains a zone hub (also referred to as a zone master in the WMRA system) and zero to a limited number of zone media players (also referred to as zone slaves in the WMRA system). The structure of the allocation area is similar to the star network topology, where the zone hub acts as the central node of the subnet. The zone hub is connected to the content source via a WiFi connection to an infrastructure AP (access point), a WiFi hotspot (Hotspot) or a WiFi peer-to-peer device, which may be the multimedia controller itself or present in The content server in the internet. When operating, the zone hub receives music content from the selected content source and synchronizes the music content synchronously via a Wi-Fi Direct peer-to-peer connection. Assign to all zone media players. A dedicated media controller or a display device capable of display, such as a smart phone, tablet or portable computer, for controlling the formation and operation of the distribution area. The media controller controls the entire allocation area or each area media player by transmitting control messages to the zone hub on the regional control path, and the zone hubs are relayed to the zone media players via the zone control path. The zone hub receives the status update message from each zone media player in the distribution zone via the zone status update path and relays the aggregated state update message to the multimedia controller via the out of zone status update path. The out-of-zone data path, control path, and status update path are established on the WiFi connection to the infrastructure AP or hotspot or peer-to-peer device. The data path, control path and status update path in the area are all based on WiFi direct connection point-to-point connection.

1 is a schematic diagram of a multimedia material distribution system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the multimedia material distribution system 100 includes a multimedia controller 102 and at least one distribution area 104. It is apparent that the multimedia controller 102 is used to control the formation, operation, and disbanding of various distribution zones. In addition, the multimedia controller 102 can be, for example, a portable device having any shape or form factor that can be displayed, such as a smart phone, tablet, or portable computer. Likewise, the multimedia controller 102 can be, for example, a source of content that provides various multimedia materials (eg, audio material, video material, and audiovisual material) and that can control the multimedia material. Alternatively, the multimedia controller 102 can be connected to a content source 120 (e.g., a cloud server), such as through an infrastructure WiFi connection or a wide area network connection.

Further, in each of the allocation areas 104 of the multimedia material distribution system 100, There is a zone hub 106 and zero to a limited number of zone media players 108 (e.g., zone media players 108a and 108b). The allocation area 104 operates as a WiFi direct connect point-to-point group, where the zone hub 106 acts as a P2P owner (GO). The zone hub 106 can be, for example, a speaker, a display device, a multimedia player or a portable device (including a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a tablet or a portable computer) or any electronic device that supports WiFi direct connect point-to-point functionality. In addition, each zone media player 108 can be, for example, a speaker, a display device, a multimedia player, or a portable device (including a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a tablet, and a portable computer) or a WiFi direct connect point-to-point function. Any electronic device. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there are two zone media players 108a and 108b in the allocation area 104. However, the number of zone media players 108 in the distribution area 104 is not limited to the scope of the present invention.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, an out-of-zone data path 110 is established between the zone hub 106 and the multimedia controller 102. The out-of-zone data path 110 may be, for example, a WiFi connection through an infrastructure AP or WiFi hotspot or a WiFi peer-to-peer device such as Wi-Fi Direct or Wi-Fi IBSS. Likewise, the zone data path is established between zone hub 106 and each zone media player 108. For example, the zone data path 112a is established between the zone hub 106 and the zone media player 108a, while the zone data path 112b is established between the zone hub 106 and the zone media player 108b. It should be noted that each of the zone data paths 112a and 112b is a WiFi direct connection point-to-point connection. That is to say, according to the Wi-Fi Direct specification, a pair of electronic devices having WiFi point-to-point connections can directly transfer data between each other.

2 is a flow diagram of a multimedia material transmission operation for a distribution area, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the multimedia material distribution system 100 shown in FIG. 1, the zone hub 106 receives the multimedia material transmitted from the multimedia content source through the out-of-zone data path 110 (step S201), and the multimedia content source may be the multimedia controller 102 or The internet media source, and the received multimedia material is synchronously reassigned to all of the zone media players 108a and 108b via the zone data paths 112a and 112b, respectively (step S205).

In the current embodiment, the topology of the multimedia material distribution system 100, the multimedia data transmission connection in the multimedia material distribution system 100 (including the multimedia controller 102 and the zone hub 106, and the zone hub 106 and each zone media) are described. The data path between the players 108) and the multimedia data transmission operation. In the following embodiments, the control and status update message transmission lines in the multimedia material distribution system 100, the control message transmission operations in the multimedia material distribution system 100, and the status update operations are further illustrated by means of the respective figures.

3 is a schematic diagram of a data path, a control path, and a status update path in a multimedia material distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The thick dashed line 332 represents the out-of-zone data path that connects the content source to the zone hub. Thick solid lines 334a and 334b represent the zone data paths between zone hub 306 and zone media players 308a and 308b, respectively.

The thin solid line 322 represents the out-of-zone control path from the multimedia controller 302 to the zone hub 306, and a pair of thin solid lines 324a and 324b represent the zone between the zone hub 306 and each of the zone media players 308a and 308b, respectively. Internal control path. Additionally, the out-of-zone control path 322 can be a WiFi two-way data connection established, for example, by an infrastructure AP or WiFi hotspot or WiFi peer-to-peer device. In practice, the control message can be delivered to the zone hub 306 using a WiFi medium access control (MAC) protocol or a higher layer protocol such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). In contrast, zone control paths 324a and 324b are established directly between zone hub 306 and respective zone media players 308a and 308b via WiFi direct connection point-to-point connections. When the control message arrives at the zone hub 306 via the out-of-zone control path 322, the zone hub 306 first determines whether the control message is destined for itself, a particular zone media player, or the entire distribution zone. The control message sent to the zone hub will terminate at zone hub 306. Control messages destined for a particular zone media player will be relayed by zone hub 306 to the zone media player over zone control path 324a or 324b. Control messages sent to the entire distribution area can be relayed individually to each zone media player or broadcast to them all.

In addition, thin dashed lines 328a and 328b represent intra-zone status update paths from zone media players 308a and 308b to zone hub 306, respectively, while thin dashed lines 326 represent out-of-zone state update paths from zone hub 306 to multimedia controller 302. . In addition, each of the zone status update paths 328a and 328b is established between the zone hub 306 and each of the zone media players 308a and 308b by a WiFi direct connect point-to-point connection. The zone hub 306 aggregates the status update messages received from the various zone media players 308a and 308b and periodically relays them to the multimedia controller 302 via the out-of-zone status update path 326. In addition, the out-of-zone status update path 326 passes through the infrastructure AP or WiFi hotspot or WiFi as previously described. The WiFi data connection of the peer-to-peer device is established between the zone hub 306 and the multimedia controller 302. In effect, the status update message from zone hub 306 can be delivered to multimedia controller 302 using, for example, a WiFi MAC (Media Access Control) protocol or a higher layer protocol such as TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol).

It should be noted that the multimedia material distribution system shown in FIG. 3 may have many variations in the actual implementation. In one embodiment, in the absence of an infrastructure AP, the out-of-zone data path 332 may need to be routed through a multimedia controller. In another embodiment, content source 330 and multimedia controller 302 may be co-located in the same physical entity. In yet another embodiment, content source 330, content controller 302, and zone hub 306 may all be integrated into a single physical device having any shape and form factor. More specifically, the functionality of multimedia controller 302, content source 330, and zone hub 306 may be performed by separate entities having different functionality or by a full entity capable of executing multiple roles simultaneously. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the out-of-zone data path 332, the out-of-zone control path 322, and the out-of-zone status update path 326 are all based on WiFi connections to infrastructure APs or hotspots. At the same time, the zone data path 334a/334b, the zone control path 324a/324b, and the zone state update path 328a/328b are all based on WiFi point-to-point connection or WiFi direct connection point-to-point connection. The network model requires zone hub 306 to operate in conjunction with a concurrent station/group owner (STA/GO) operation.

4 is a flow chart showing a control message transmission operation of a multimedia material distribution system having the control path shown in FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. When the control message (for example, the control signal for making the volume of a zone media player 308 small) Upon reaching the zone hub 306 from the multimedia controller 306 via the out-of-zone control path 322 (step S401), the zone hub 306 will relay the message to the designated zone media player 308a or 308b in time via the zone control path 324a or 324b. (Step S405).

5 is a flow chart of a status update operation of a multimedia material distribution system having the status update path shown in FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In step S501, the zone media players 308a and 308b each send a status update message to the zone hub 306 via the respective zone status update paths 328a and 328b. In step S505, the zone hub 306 aggregates the status update messages received from the various zone media players (308a and 308b) and rebroadcasts to the multimedia controller 302 via the out-of-zone status update path 326.

6 is a schematic diagram of a control path and a status update path of a multimedia material distribution system according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, dotted lines 622, 626a, and 626b represent control and status update paths that travel directly from multimedia controller 602 to zone hub 606, zone media player 608a, and zone media player 608b, respectively. In other words, there is a direct control and status update path between the multimedia controller 602 and the various nodes (606, 608a, and 608b) in the allocation area. In contrast to the control and status update scheme illustrated in FIG. 3, the control and status update scheme illustrated in FIG. 6 does not require the zone hub 606 to relay control messages between the multimedia controller 602 and the zone media players 608a and 608b. And status update messages.

In one embodiment, the control and status update paths 622, 626a, and 626b are both based on a two-way Bluetooth low energy (BLE) data path connection. line. In this embodiment, multimedia controller 602 establishes a BLE data channel connection with zone hub 606 and each zone media player 608a and 608b. In addition, control messages and status update messages are sent directly between the multimedia controller 602 and the zone hub 606/zone media players 608a and 608b without being relayed through the zone hub 606. More specifically, the control message and the status update message are encoded in a BLE data channel protocol data unit (PDU) packet. The multimedia controller 602 is the master of all BLE data channel connections, while the zone hub 606 and the zone media players 608a and 608b are their respective connected slaves. The multimedia controller 602 determines the time interval for the connection event for each BLE data channel connection. During each connection event, the host (multimedia controller 602) first transmits the data channel PDU to the slave, which may carry the control message or carry an empty message when there is no control message to be sent. When the slave receives the data channel PDU from the host, the slave transmits a data channel PDU back to the host, which can carry a status update message or carry an empty message when no status update is available. According to another embodiment, the control and status update paths may both be based on directed or undirected BLE advertisement broadcasts.

7 is a flow chart showing a control message transmission operation of a multimedia material distribution system having the control path and the status update path shown in FIG. 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the multimedia controller 602 needs to send a control message (for example, a control message for making the volume down of the zone media player 608a) to the zone media player 608a, the control message is directly sent through the control path 626a (step S701). .

Figure 8 is a view having the shape shown in Figure 6 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Flowchart of the status update operation of the multimedia data distribution system of the state update path. As shown in FIG. 8, in the status update operation, each of the zone media players 608a and 608b directly transmits a status update message to the multimedia controller 602 via the direct status update paths 626a and 626b, respectively (S801).

In addition to the multimedia material transmission operation, the control message transmission operation, and the status update operation, the operation method of the multimedia material distribution system of the present invention further includes a discovery operation. 9 is a flow diagram of a discovery operation for a multimedia material distribution system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The discovery operation of the multimedia controller is similar to the WiFi Direct discovery process. However, the behavior of the wireless media player during the discovery process depends on whether the media player is associated with a zone hub in the distribution area. To speed up discovery, wireless media players that are not associated with any of the distribution zones are only passively waiting for probe requests that are coming on a WiFi Direct Connected Channel, rather than performing their own active scans. According to the WiFi Direct connection description, the wireless media player associated with the allocation zone and thus becoming the zone media player neither listens nor responds to the upcoming probe request. Instead, the corresponding zone hubs will respond to the probe request on their behalf. As shown in FIG. 9, in the discovery operation of the embodiment, the multimedia controller transmits a series of probe requests on a plurality of WiFi channels (step S901), and the plurality of WiFi channels include, for example, channel 1, channel 6, and channel 11. Wait. In addition, these probe requests may carry private information of the multimedia controller containing a unique and user-friendly controller name, or WiFi functionality, or other specific information about the intended multimedia material distribution system. Wireless that is unrelated to any allocation area when the multimedia controller sends a probe request on a predetermined listening channel The media player passively waits for a probe request on a predetermined listening channel and responds with a probe response upon receiving the probe request (step S905). The probe response may also carry private information about the response to the media player. In addition, the probe response sent from the zone hub also contains details of the zone media player currently associated with the zone hub.

Figure 10 is a flow diagram of a discovery operation for a multimedia material distribution system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The discovery operation in this embodiment approximates the BLE advertising mechanism. Each wireless speaker periodically transmits BLE advertisement packets on a plurality of predetermined BLE advertisement channels. While searching for the wireless zone media player, the multimedia controller listens to the advertising packets on the upcoming BLE advertising channel. As shown in FIG. 10, according to the BLE advertisement mechanism, in the discovery operation of this embodiment, each zone hub and zone media player periodically transmits an undirected BLE advertisement packet on a plurality of predetermined BLE advertisement channels (step S1001). ). The predetermined BLE advertisement channel includes, for example, channel 37, channel 38, channel 39, and the like. In addition, the undirected BLE advertisement packet may, for example, carry private information of the corresponding zone hub and zone media player, the private message containing a unique and user friendly player name and/or other information related to the advertising device. In step S1005, upon searching for the wireless zone media player, the multimedia controller listens to the BLE advertisement packets on all of the predetermined BLE advertisement channels and decodes the private information carried in the corresponding undirected BLE advertisement packets.

For example, in a Wireless Composite Space Audio (WMRA) distribution system, the WMRA system includes a content source, a media controller (ie, a multimedia controller), and at least one speakerphone A zone (i.e., a distribution zone) in which each speaker zone is comprised of a zone hub and zero to a limited number of zone speakers (i.e., zone media players). Outside the speaker zone, the media controller establishes and maintains an out-of-zone data, control, and status update path with each zone hub. Within each speaker zone, the zone hub establishes and maintains zone data, control, and status update paths with each zone speaker. The operation of the WMRA speaker zone includes the steps of receiving music content from the content source by the zone hub through the out-of-zone data path and reassigning to each zone speaker synchronously through the corresponding zone data path. The operation of the WMRA zone hub further includes the step of relaying control messages received from the media controller on the out-of-area control path to the zone speakers on the zone control path. The operation of the WMRA zone hub further includes the step of relaying the status update message received from each zone speaker on the zone status update path to the media controller on the out-of-zone status update path.

In the previous embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there is one allocation area 104 in the multimedia material distribution system 100. However, the number of allocation areas 104 in the multimedia material distribution system 100 is not limited to the scope of the present invention. 11 is a schematic diagram of a multimedia material distribution system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the multimedia controller 1102 can control more than one allocation area (e.g., allocation areas 1104a and 1104b) even if the connection topologies of the allocation areas are different from each other. That is, the connection topology of the allocation area 1104a (eg, WiFi direct-connected point-to-point connection, infrastructure WiFi connection, or Bluetooth low-power connection) may be different than the connection topology of the allocation area 1104b. However, they can all be wired to the same multimedia controller 1102.

In the previous embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 11, the multimedia controller can control not only one or more of the allocation zones, but also the content source of one or more of the distribution zones. However, the function of the multimedia controller is not limited to this. Figure 12 is a diagram showing changes in the topology of the multimedia material area system of Figure 11 in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 12, there are a first allocation area 1204a and a second allocation area 1204b in the multimedia material distribution system 1200. The multimedia controller 1202 is a controller of both the first allocation area 1204a and the second allocation area 1204b, and is the area hub 1206a of the first allocation area 1204a. More specifically, the multimedia controller 1202 has the functionality of a multimedia controller, zone hub, and content source in the first allocation area 1204a while controlling the content source and bridging the content source to the second allocation area 1204b.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a multimedia material distribution system according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, in the present embodiment, the multimedia material distribution system 1300 includes a multifunctional central device (MCD) 1302. The MCD 1302 has a combined function of a multimedia controller, a multimedia content source, and a zone hub. Additionally, the MCD 1302 can be, for example, a portable device such as a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a tablet, or a portable computer. More specifically, the focus of the multimedia distribution system is on the MCD 1302. The multimedia material distribution system 1300 in this embodiment further includes at least one zone media player (in the present embodiment, there are two zone media players 1308a and 1308b). Further, the MCD 1302 may have, for example, a built-in multimedia controller 1302a and a zone hub 1302. In other words, the multimedia controller 1302a is integrated with the zone hub 1302b in the MCD 1302. The data path in the zone (labeled 1312a and 1312b respectively) is a WiFi direct connection point-to-point connection, which is built Stands between the zone hub 1302b and each of the zone media players 1308a and 1308b. The intra-area control path and status update path (labeled 1324a and 1324b, respectively) are also based on a point-to-point connection between the zone hub 1302b and the respective zone media players (groups). The zone hub 1302b relays control messages to each of the zone media players 1308a and 1308b and relays the status update message back to the multimedia controller 1302a. The out-of-zone data, control, and status update paths between the zone hub 1302b and the multimedia controller 1302a are both internal to the MCD and operate as in discrete implementations. The MCD has an Internet connection that is connected to the distribution area via an infrastructure AP or a wide area network (WAN).

In an embodiment, a multimedia material distribution system having an MCD can be configured, for example, to include a first distribution area and a second distribution area. That is to say, in a multimedia data distribution system with MCD, the memory is in more than one allocation area. In this multimedia distribution system, the MCD plays multiple roles. For the first allocation area, the MCD is a multimedia controller and WiFi hotspot that provides Internet connectivity to the zone hub. For the second allocation zone, the MCD operates as described in the previous embodiment shown in FIG.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 13, the MCD has a combined function of a multimedia controller, a multimedia content source, and a zone hub. However, the invention is not limited by the functionality of the MCD. In another embodiment of the invention, the multimedia controller of the MCD may be a local content source or connected to a content source via an infrastructure WiFi connection or a wide area network connection.

In the present invention, multimedia data transmission in a multimedia data distribution system Transmission, control message transmission, status update message transmission, and discovery operations maintain sufficient functionality in the absence of an infrastructure access point. In addition, the wiring used to transfer signals between the controller, the zone hub, and the zone media player can be established in different ways based on the network topology and device performance.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some changes and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100‧‧‧Multimedia data distribution system

102‧‧‧Multimedia controller

104‧‧‧Distribution area

106‧‧‧ District Hub

108a, 108b‧‧‧ District Media Player

110‧‧‧Outside data path

112a, 112b‧‧‧ data path in the district

120‧‧‧Content source

Claims (25)

A multimedia material distribution system, comprising: a multimedia content source; a multimedia controller; and at least one distribution area, comprising: a zone hub, receiving a multimedia material from the multimedia content source through an out-of-area data path; and at least one zone The media player, each of the zone media players directly receives the multimedia material from the zone hub through a data path in the zone, wherein each of the zone data paths is a wireless fidelity point-to-point connection. The multimedia material distribution system of claim 1, wherein the multimedia controller is integrated with the zone hub in a portable device. The multimedia material distribution system of claim 1, wherein the out-of-zone data path comprises a wireless fidelity connection through an infrastructure access point or a wireless fidelity hotspot or a wireless fidelity peer-to-peer device. The multimedia data distribution system of claim 1, wherein each of the data paths in the area is a wireless fidelity direct connection point-to-point connection. The multimedia data distribution system of claim 1, wherein an out-of-zone control path is established between the multimedia controller and the zone hub and the out-of-zone control path comprises an infrastructure access point or a wireless A wireless fidelity two-way data connection established by a fidelity hotspot or a wireless fidelity peer-to-peer device. For example, the multimedia data distribution system described in claim 5, wherein The control path in the area is directly established between the area hub and each of the area media players by the wireless fidelity direct connection point-to-point connection, and when a control message arrives at the area hub via the out-of-area control path The zone hub determines that the control message is sent to the zone hub itself, or one of the zone media players, or the entire zone, and the control message is terminated at the zone hub when dispatched to the zone hub Or when the control message is sent to the media player in the area, the control message is relayed by the area hub to the media player of the area to be sent on the corresponding control path in the area, or when the control message is sent to the entire The control message is relayed to each of the zone media players or to all of the zone media players when the zone is allocated. The multimedia data distribution system of claim 1, wherein an out-of-zone status update path is established between the multimedia controller and the zone hub, and the out-of-zone status update path includes an infrastructure access point. Or a wireless fidelity hotspot or a wireless fidelity peer-to-peer device for a wireless fidelity data connection. The multimedia data distribution system of claim 7, wherein the status update path in the area is established between the area hub and each of the area media players by the wireless fidelity direct connection point-to-point connection, and The zone hub aggregates a plurality of status update messages received from the zone media players, respectively, and periodically rebroadcasts to the multimedia controller via the zone outbound state update path. The multimedia data distribution system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of direct control and status update paths are respectively established between the multimedia controller and the regional hub, and the multimedia controller plays media with each of the zones. Between the devices, and a control message and a status update message pass the corresponding direct control and The status update path is exchanged directly between the multimedia controller and the zone hub, the zone media players or the entire distribution zone. The multimedia material distribution system of claim 9, wherein each of the direct control and status update paths comprises a two-way Bluetooth low energy connection. The multimedia material distribution system of claim 1, wherein the at least one distribution area comprises a first distribution area and a second distribution area, and the multimedia controller is a zone hub of the first allocation area to The multimedia material is relayed to the zone hub of the second distribution area. The multimedia data distribution system of claim 1, wherein the multimedia controller is a content source or is connected to the content source through an infrastructure wireless fidelity connection or a wide area network connection. A multimedia data distribution system includes: a portable device having a multimedia controller and a zone hub, wherein the multimedia controller and the zone hub are integrated into the portable device; and at least one zone media player, One of the data paths in the area is established between the portable device and each of the regional media players, and each of the regional media players is from the area of the portable device through the data path in the area The hub directly receives a multimedia material, wherein each of the data paths in the area is a wireless fidelity point-to-point connection. The multimedia data distribution system of claim 13, wherein a zone control and status update path is directly established between the zone hub and each of the zone media players. The multimedia material distribution system of claim 14, wherein the data path in the zone, each of the control and status update paths comprises the wireless fidelity direct connection point-to-point connection. A method for operating a multimedia data distribution system, wherein the data distribution system comprises a multimedia content source, a multimedia controller and at least one distribution area, each of the at least one distribution area having a zone hub and at least one zone media player, The data path in the area is established between the area hub and each of the area media players, and an out-of-area data path is established between the multimedia controller and the area hub of each of the at least one allocation area, the operation The method comprises: a multimedia data transmission operation, comprising: receiving a multimedia material from a hub of the area through the data path outside the area, and directly reallocating the received multimedia material to each by the hub of the area through the corresponding data path in the area A plurality of zone media players, wherein each of the zone data paths is a wireless fidelity point-to-point connection. The method of operation of claim 16, wherein the out-of-zone data path comprises a wireless fidelity point-to-point connection through an infrastructure access point or a wireless fidelity hotspot or a wireless fidelity point-to-point device. The operation method of claim 16, wherein an out-of-zone control path is established between the multimedia controller and the zone hub, and a control path in an area is directly established by the wireless fidelity direct connection point-to-point connection The zone hub is associated with each of the zone media players, and the method of operation further includes a control message transmission operation, the control message transmission operation comprising: when the control message reaches the zone hub via the out-of-zone control path, By this The zone hub determines that the control message is sent to the zone hub itself, one of the zone media players or the entire distribution zone; when the control message is sent to the zone hub, the control message is terminated at the zone hub; When the control message is sent to the media player in the area, the control unit broadcasts the control message to the media player in the area in the corresponding control path of the area; and when the control message is sent to the entire distribution During the zone, the control message is relayed by the zone hub to each of the zone media players. The method of operation of claim 18, wherein the out-of-zone control path comprises a wireless fidelity two-way data connection established by an infrastructure access point or a wireless fidelity hotspot or a wireless fidelity point-to-point device. line. The method of claim 16, wherein the out-of-zone status update path is established through an infrastructure access point or a wireless fidelity hotspot or a wireless fidelity point-to-point device for a wireless fidelity data connection. Between the multimedia controller and the zone hub, an area update path is established between the zone hub and each of the zone media players by the wireless fidelity direct connection point-to-point connection, and the operation method is further Included as a status update operation, the status update operation includes: aggregating, by the local area hub, a plurality of status update messages respectively from the media player in the area; periodically broadcasting the status update messages via the out-of-area status update path Go to the multimedia controller. The operating method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of direct control and status update paths are respectively established between the multimedia controller and the zone hub, and the multimedia controller and each of the zone media players And the method of operation further includes a control message transmission operation, the control message transmission operation includes: directing a control message directly to the multimedia controller and the zone hub through the corresponding direct control and status update paths, The zone media player or the entire exchange area is exchanged. The method of operation of claim 21, wherein each of the direct control and status update paths comprises a two-way Bluetooth low energy connection. The operation method of claim 21, further comprising a status update operation, wherein the status update operation comprises: sending, by each of the plurality of area media players, a status update message by the corresponding status update path. Go to the multimedia controller. The method of operation of claim 16, further comprising a discovery operation, wherein the discovering operation comprises: transmitting, by the multimedia controller, a plurality of probe requests on the plurality of wireless fidelity channels; and each of the regions The media player sends a probe response to the multimedia controller in response to the probe requests received by each of the zone media players. The method of operation of claim 16, further comprising a discovery operation, wherein the discovery operation comprises: Each of the zone hubs and the zone media player periodically transmits a plurality of undirected Bluetooth low energy advertisements on a plurality of predetermined advertisement channels; and the undirected Bluetooth is targeted by the multimedia controller Low-power ads to scan the predetermined ad channels.